Machine-gun belt and the like.



V. H. JENNINGS.

MACHINE GUN BELT AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-12.1917.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

[72 v en afar.-

VICTOR H. JENNINGS, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO UNIVEBSAI:

PATENTS COMPANY, OF WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND,

ISLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

A CORPORATION OF RHOIDE MACHINE-GUN BELT AND THE LIKE.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

Application filed April 12, 1917. Serial No. 181,433.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vwron H. JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machine- Gun Belts and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention is an improvement in machine-gun beltsand other carriers of the same general character and construction as those used as machine-gun belts. It provides in novel and improved manner for the manufacture of the said belts with the corded or beaded eflect which is desired at one edge of such a belt or carrier. Also,

with the thickening which is desired alongside the cords or beads for the purpose of compensating, in the case of a machlnen belt, for the smaller diameters of the bul ets of the cartridges occupying the loops of the belt or carrier as compared with those of the shells of the cartridges. In addition it facilitates the said manufacture, and enables uniform results to be attained.

The invention has reference, more particularly, to carriers of the type composed of two strips of flexible material, usually woven cloth, placed back to back and secured together on transverse lines at intervals so as to form loops opening from edge to edge of the carrier and adapted to contain cartridges or other inserted articles.

In accordance with the invention, a carrier of the said type is made of two strips, each strip primarily of a width reater than the body of the carrier and ormed with or having attached thereto a bead, cord, or rib extending longitudinally thereof at a distance from one ed e correspond ing substantially with the wi th of hem de sired and each strip folded or turned transversely upon itself on a longitudinal line determined by the said bead, cord, or rib, with the infolded or inturned marginal ortion secured in lace so as to constltute t c said hem. Mac inc-gun belts have been made heretofore by combining two strips, each folded transversely upon itself around a looswor unattached cord which is guided into place at the time of folding the strip and securing the folded-over portion in place. The invention is distinguished, however, by the fact of employing stripseach formed with or having fixedly attached thereto prior to the folding or turning a bead, cord, or rib, as aforesaid, adapted to determine the line of fold.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings which show a number of embodiments of the characteristic feature of the invention, namelya carrier-strip or web formed with or having attached thereto a bead, cord, or rib extending longitudinally thereof at, a distance from one edge of the said strPip or web.

igure 1 of the drawings is a perspective of ianshort portion of the length of a belt or carrier such as is used in a machinegun, with cartridges occupying some of the loops of the said belt or carrier.

Figs. 2, 3, 4: and 5, respectively, show short lengths of carrierstri s or webs woven wit beads, cords, or ri s according to the invention, a number of difierent kinds of beads, cords, or ribs being represented in the various views.

The machine-gun belt or carrier shown in Fig. 1 is, in general, of a known type of construction, namely, composed of two woven strips or webbings 1, 1, laid back to back and bound togetherwby pairs of metal clips .2, 2, and 3, 3, etc., the two clips constituting a pair being placed against the op osite outer sides of the two strips or web ings and being fastened together with the strips or webbings between them by means of hollow rivets or eyelets 4, 4, etc. The distance between one pair of clips and the next corresponds with the size of loop) required between the two strips or web ings for the reception of a cartridge 5. Certain of the pairs of clips, namely those marked 3, 3, occurring at regular intervals in the series of clips, are of greater length than the others Lines of stitches fastening such folded-over or turned-over marginal portions in place are shown at 8, 8.

In accordance with the invention and indicated above, each strip or Webbing 1 is formed with or has attached thereto a bead, cord, or rib extending longitudinally thereof at a distance from one dge corresponding with the contemplated width of fold-over or hem. Fig. 2 shows a bead, cord, or rib that consists of a bunch U of warp-threads bound by weft-threads 9, 9, to one face of a strip or webbing 1. Fig. 3 shows one that consists of a single strand or cord 6" of the required size which is bound similarly to a strip or webbing l" by weft-threads 9, 9. Fig. 4 shows one that is formed by producing a longitudinaltube in a. strip or webbing 1, by weaving the latter double, 11. e. 1n two separate plies, for a portion of its Width, and inclosing a bunch of warp-threads 6 between such plies in the process of weaving. As will be apparent a single strand or cord like that indi :ated at (3 in Fig. 3 might be inelosed between the two plies instead of the bunch of warps.- Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal rib (3 formed upon the strip or webbing 1" by an increase in the number of plies coinposing the strip or webbing, or it might be through the use of thicker warp-threads, \\ilhout any inclose l stufi'er-warps or cord. lhe beads, cords, r ribs may be formed upon or attached to the strips or webbings in still other ways.

A stri 7 or webbing formed with 01; having attacliec thereto a bead. cord, or rib at a distance from onmedge corresponding with the contemplated width of told-ovcr or hem may readilyfbe folded, doubled, or turnedover upon itself along a longitudinal line determined by the said bead, cord or rib. This will insure that the iolded-over, doubled-over, or turned-over part or hem will be of the correct width, as Well as give a better finished article than one made by theold method in which a. told is turned in the usual way and a cord is run .in on the stitching machine.

lVhat is claimed as the invention is,

1. A belt or carrier made of strips secured together at intervals, forming loops or pockets between them, each strip having attached thereto a bead, cord, or rib at a distance from both edges thereof, and being infolded transversely upon itself on a longitudinal linc determined by the bead, cord, or rib,'to produce a thickened portion of the belt or carrier, with the foldedcver portion secured in place by applied fastenii'ig-means.

2. A belt or carrier made of strips secured together at intervals, forming loops or pockets between them, each strip woven with a bead, cord, or rib at a. distance from both edges thereof, and being int'olded transversely upon itself on a longitudinal line determined by the bead, cord or rib, to produce a. thicltened portion of the belt or car rier, with the folded-over portion secured in place li v applied fastening-means.

3. A be t or carrier made of strips secured together at intervals, forming loops or pockets between them, each strip formed with an interval. bead, cord, or rib at a distance from both edges thereof, and being infolded transversely upon itself on a longitudinal line determined by the bead, cord or rib, to produce a thickened portion of the belt or carrier, with the folded-over portion secured in place by applied fastening-means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VICTOR H. JENNINGS.

Witnesses DELIA M. RHEAUME, CHARLES S. VVENTWQRTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. 0." 

